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Askmumnow.com is now available on mobile devices to make it much easier for you to access the content. We also plan to update some of the information so that it is more relevant in today’s world. I’m thinking more of recipes because in the 1970s and 80s the range of ingredients available was far narrower…..

Growing up in a house on a ¼ acre section with lots of room to play is a fast fading memory for many young New Zealanders. And what of the days of eating sweet juicy tomatoes, fresh peas in the pod, crunching on freshly picked lettuces or raiding the strawberry plants for those luscious sweet…..

Your child can help make this finger paint as well as being able to enjoy creating great art works with it later. Ingredients 2 cups white flour 2 cups cold water blue, red and green food colouring Method 1 Put water into a large bowl 2 Add the flour half a cup at a time 3 When…..

The Sunday Roast served with lashings of crispy roast potatoes kumara, pumpkin and parsnip is a long standing New Zealand tradition. And do make pan gravy from the drippings in the roasting pan. Lamb, beef, chicken or pork are

A budget is a great way of helping you to keep track of the money you earn and spend. Soon we will have a worksheet for you to use to create a budget that will work for you. So you have some real data to put into your budget worksheet, keep a note of your…..

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I’ve preserved feijoas in jars most years to use them long after the season (late Autumn/early winter) is over. Usually I’ve cooked the fruit on the stovetop and heated the jars in the oven to sterilise them. This year I decided to try using the microwave oven and it is so much quicker and easier……

There are lots of ways to make the most of your small garden space. You may not be able to grow the range of vegetables your parents and grandparetns grew on the bigger slices of land that were typical in the mid-late 20th century. But that doesn’t mean you need to go without a garden…..

We’ve all had tiny teddy biscuits, or animal biscuits for birthday parties. (My children only had these for special occasions). What a great idea to put them together with mini chocolate bars and smarties to make these cuties for a party. So simple. So effective. Let the children help. They’ll have so much fun. Teddy…..

Here’s a handy and easy to prepare insect repellent that is safe on most skins, even babies. Use equal amounts of dettol, baby oil and water. Mix together and put into a spray bottle ans spray on to a makeup remover pad or similar so you can wipe it on to small children without the…..

Hard on the heels of the expense of Christmas and holidays comes the start of the school year; uniforms, stationery and school fees. Education in state schools is supposedly free, but these expenses, along with extra school activities are the responsibility of parents. Read more

Whether you have recently lost your job, want to change your career, seek to further the career you have or are about to enter the workforce, the keys to success are similar. It involves successfully answering three questions: ‘What do you want to do?’, ‘What skills do you bring to the marketplace?’ and, ‘What will others…..

Tip of the Day

I’ve preserved feijoas in jars most years to use them long after the season (late Autumn/early winter) is over. Usually I’ve cooked the fruit on the stovetop and heated the jars in the oven to sterilise them. This year I decided to try using the microwave oven and it is so much quicker and easier……

Welcome to Ask Mum Now

In New Zealand we're reaching the end of summer - though some people wonder where that was. In many parts of the northern hemisphere the winter has been marked by severe storms, rain and flooding and colder than usual temperatures.

While the northerners are beginning to see signs of spring (even in Denmark according to my son) in New Zealand we are into end of summer harvesting from our gardens. In our garden the zucchinis are almost done, green beans are coming through with enough to freeze and I'm picking heaps of tomatoes. The excess of tomatoes will be heading for jars of pasta sauce to use during the winter.

Cucumbers got too dry so these didn't make the cut this year but lettuces and spring onions have filled out salad bowls along with tomatoes and herbs, especially basil all from the garden.

I don't try to grow everything we eat as we have a fresh market of locally grown vegetables every Saturday where I can get other vegetables that don't grow so well in our garden...read more